Kabayel vs Knyba Predictions: Homecoming German hero puts down a marker

WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel comes home on Saturday, January 10 as he faces Damian Knyba. The Rudolf-Weber Arena in Oberhausen will play host to the German’s Queensberry debut as he looks to put a marker down for 2026. DAZN will screen the event live.

Read on for my Kabayel vs Knyba predictions.

Kabayel vs Knyba Odds

Kabayel is a massive 1/25 favourite to prevail here on home soil. Knyba is up against it at 10/1, while the draw is priced at 22/1. 

Kabayel is fancied at 2/5 to stop Knyba, while the fight is priced at 21/10 to go the distance.

Kabayel vs Knyba Fight Preview

Kabayel is arguably the top heavyweight contender in the world. New Zealand’s Joseph Parker was his biggest rival for that title before being stopped by Fabio Wardley in a retroactive WBO title fight. 

The German has beaten Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Zhilei Zhang in his last three outings. Oleksander Usyk aside, no boxer in the blue riband division is in better recent form. 

Kabayel entered that trio of terror as a 23-0, two-time European champion. Most felt that continental crowns were his ceiling, especially those who saw his fortunate escape with a majority decision win over cult favourite Derek Chisora. 

But if there is one thing the Riyadh-ication of boxing has achieved, it is establishing a heavyweight hierarchy. Saudi entertainment tsar Turki Alalshikh has matched the best against the best when it comes to the big men. And Kabayel, by virtue of three upsets over major names, is arguably the best heavyweight not currently carrying a belt. 

Kabayel has built his empire on combinations and body punching. The 33-year-old likes to get in close and rip hooks to the solar plexus, melded with uppercuts to the chin. Even against opponents you’d expect to smother him, like the 6’8” Makhmudov or 6’6” Zhang, the shorter Kabayel created space to work on the inside.

That should worry Knyba, a 6’7” boxer with a long, rangy frame. The Pole has some power, but not enough to dissuade the best. A three-round knockout of Richard Lartey did the rounds in late 2024, but 11 finishes in 17 victories is not mind-blowing. 

Knyba works behind a rather loose jab, but is yet to meet a foe who has effectively punished it. Lartey cracked him with a sloppy but hard right hook in the opening round of their fight. It is the sort of opening a world-class heavyweight like Kabayel can punish.

In his most recent win, a seven-round TKO of journeyman Joey Dawejko, it is easy to see where Kabayel can thrive. Even against a limited opponent, Knyba let his man get close in a way a tall fighter with superior reach never should. Dawejko wasted the openings. Kabayel won’t.

This bout is essentially an advert for the credentials of Frank Warren’s latest heavyweight acquisition. Queensberry is brimming with talented big men: WBO boss Wardley, a returning Tyson Fury, former IBF kingpin Daniel Dubois, future champion Moses Itauma, world-rated Filip Hrgovic, ex-cruiserweight titlist Lawrence Okolie and war dogs like Chisora and Zhang. A strong showing in Oberhausen could tee up some massive fights for Kabayel with his new stablemates.

Kabayel vs Knyba Full Card

Agit Kabayel vs Damian Knyba

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Granit Shala vs Petar Milas

Oronzo Birardi vs Milosav Savic

Kevin Saszik vs Patrick Schaefer

Daniel Dietz vs Seun Salami

Nelvie Tiafack vs Piotr Cwik

Roman Fury vs Toni Thes

Kabayel vs Knyba Prediction

I think Kabayel will fight in his usual patient, thoughtful manner. He is a master of space and the art of closing it. Knyba’s jab is uneasy, and I reckon the German slips it with ease to launch brutal body attacks. When the hands drop, Kabayel will invite his vicious uppercuts to the party and wrap this one up in rounds 4-6. That section of the fight is 10/3 for a Kabayel victory.

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